Maia Song Contest 5

The Maia Song Contest 5 was the fifth edition of the Maia Song Contest, hosted in Cordence, following their victory in the previous edition. Forty-five countries participated in the contest - with Samavia debuting, Uslye returning, and Brilliania, Joeriakia, Rraegvoerrgh, and Usofa withdrawing.

For the first time, since their inception in #2, semi-finals ran non-simultaenously.

Bidding phase
CBN and the MBU announced the conditions under which cities and venues could announce their interest in hosting the contest. Although originally announcing a capacity of just 8227, Three Stripes arena was announced to be the venue. The arena had some alterations made so that it could fit the 10,000 minimum capacity required to host the contest.


 * The host city had to be near a major airport.
 * The venue must be available for the rehearsal period before the contest and one week after the conclusion of the contest
 * The venue must not be open-air, but an air-conditioned building with a capacity of at least 10,000 and a minimum ceiling height of 15 metres (49 ft), insulated for sound and light.
 * The green room must be located as close to the arena as possible (or within it), with a capacity of 300.

Host venue

Format
The five highest-scoring countries, including host Cordence, are automatically qualified to the final. The other 40 countries must qualify from one of two semi-finals, in which 10 countries shall qualify from each.

Semi-final allocation draw
The participating countries were split into five pots based on their overall performance at previous editions of the contest. Samavia, as a debuting country, was randomly assigned to Pot E.

Semi Final 1
Cordence, Darkwood and Otaku Republic will also vote in this semi-final. A playlist can be found here. A recap can be found here.

A scoreboard can be found here.

Semi Final 2
Klapaucius and Zycantia will also vote in this semi-final. A playlist can be found here. A recap can be found here.

A scoreboard can be found here.

Grand Final
A playlist can be found here. A recap can be found here.

A scoreboard can be found here.


 * 1.As the hosts of the contest, Cordence was randomly allocated to perform 21st.

Audience booing and security intervention
When it was revealed that the Otaku Republic had given zero points to Tayō Nohito, Nohiton fans in the audience proceeded to boo loudly at the result, with two fans reportedly being removed for shouting obscenities towards the Otaku delegation. When it emerged that Tayō Nohito had also awarded no points to the Otaku entry, one Otaku attendee had to be removed by security for attempting to enter the green room in a rage. Björnsk magazine FAME referred to the events as 'extraordiary', adding that it 'highlighted the extent to which some fans took the contest'. The MBU later delivered a statement condemning the actions of some members of the audience.

Zycantian-Tanviquan Relations
Zycantian entrepreneur and television personality Shaniqua "Shaniqua Diva" Stevic announced her intention to act as spokesperson for both Zycantia and Tanviqua, due to owning 50% of neighbouring Tanviqua. This violates the rules of the contest as no spokesperson can represent more than one country. Shaniqua Diva was later announced as the spokesperson of both countries, with allegations that she had bribed the MBU to allow this to occur. Moments later, Tanviquan broadcaster TQN announced that Shaniqua Diva would not represent Tanviqua. Tanvir Alam announced that he would be spokesperson again, before confirming that Annie Glomrau and Juilette Mrayzon would join him. Shaniqua Diva responded by tweeting, "It's a very low blow for the Tanviquan HoD to replace me with himself and two of my other exes on the panel."

Following widespread support for Shaniqua Diva from the international community, Tanvir Alam was urged to apologise and reinstate Shaniqua Diva as the Tanviquan spokesperson. After Alam declined, calling Shaniqua Diva an "ugly slut", Shaniqua Diva declared war on Tanviqua, sending Viridian troops to attack the country, armed with dildo-shaped guns shooting white bullets. The guns were later made available on the Shaniqua's XXX Fantasy Parlour website and known as the Shaniqua Diva Super Shooters. The Zycantian government opted not to release a statement on its position regarding the war, with President Trish Hegarty reportedly skipping a sitting of parliament to discuss the matter in order to film a slutpop music video with Debbie Wanner.

The MBU have stated that the tense relations between Zycantia, Viridia and Tanviqua may affect their participation in upcoming editions of the Maia Song Contest.

Harrinian representative
On the 12th of November, it was announced that the Zycantian-Temekylopian-Fronezench singer Ellie Goulding was going to represent Harrinia in the fifth edition of Maia Song Contest with her song "Still Falling For You", however, barely 24 hours after this was announced, Ellie got into a car accident and was forced to stay in the hospital for a while, meaning that she couldn't compete in Maia Song Contest 5. Shortly after this was acknowledged, Harrinia Broadcast Television (HBT) announced their new entry: Keri Hilson with her song "Pretty Girl Rock".

International broadcasts and voting
Please check the list of official rules before submitting a spokesperson.

Voting and spokespersons

 * Kaija Koo (Amsokian representative in the fourth edition)
 * Courtney Stodden & Jeka
 * Leah McFall
 * Colton Haynes
 * Maryse & The Miz
 * Hillary Clinton
 * Rag'n'Bone Man
 * Teresa Mannion
 * Tommy Wiseau
 * Maggie Smith
 * Ita Buttrose
 * Alecia Holden
 * Zolita
 * Lily Allen
 * Magenta Discharge


 * Wendy van Dijk
 * Zhanar Dugalova (Kashykian representative in the first edition and in the third edition as part of KeshYou)
 * Beren Saat
 * Kim and Cody
 * Anahit & Mary
 * Emma Willis
 * Mary Berry
 * Selah Sue
 * Immanuel Casto
 * Alex Willett & Morgan Willett
 * Debi Mazar
 * Luna Haruna (Otaku representative in the second edition)
 * Tamta
 * Aaron Taylor-Johnson
 * Sarah Geronimo


 * Larry Lamb
 * Doda
 * Gjan
 * Sergey Lazarev (Sueltan representative in the fourth edition)
 * Tanvir Alam, Annie Glomrau & Juliette Mrayzon
 * Dami Im
 * Kazoo
 * Tyson Beckford
 * Olya Polyakova (Taladosian representative in the second and third editions)
 * Jake Roper
 * Lindsey Stirling
 * Rebecca Mader
 * Kot Evangel
 * Shaniqua Stevic & Delta Goodrem

Other countries
Eligibility for potential participation in the Maia Song Contest requires a national broadcaster with active MBU membership that would be able to broadcast the contest. The MBU will issue an invitation of participation in the contest to all active members.

Active MBU countries

 * - The country initially confirmed participation but withdrew it on 30 October, citing poor results. They have stated they intend to return in the next edition.


 * - Neither of the country's collaborating broadcasters had released any information regarding the participation of Svu & Swae. They originally intended to participate in the previous edition but were withdrawn after they failed to select a participant before the deadline. A return to the contest was heavily rumoured, but the country was not on the final list of participating countries revealed on 8 November.


 * - UBN confirmed on 28 October that they would not be returning to #5 due to poor results. It is widely believed that another broadcaster will return to represent Usofa in the next edition.


 * - Although the country did not participate in Maia Song Contest 4, the Zvorrhybnnian national broadcaster has previously stated that they intend to return in the future. Despite this, ZVRT confirmed that they would not be returning to this edition.

Associate MBU countries

 * - The country initially confirmed participation with the song "Kazagym ay", performed by Gauhartas, which was selected through the national selection Brilijankeru Šušapan 1. However the MBU and BNNT through mutual agreement decided that future Brillian participation in the competition could not be possible for various reasons. They were also downgraded to associate membership on 8 November 2016.


 * - The Maia Broadcasting Union (MBU) confirmed on 26 October that the country would not be permitted to compete in this edition of Maia Song Contest, following a scandal involving their Head of Delegation. They were also downgraded to associate membership on 8 November 2016, meaning that they may still broadcast the contest should they wish to.

MBU non-members

 * E Lussantia.png Eastern Lussantia - On 25 October, the nationalist-leaning Swedish-speaking newspaper Rekordet said that the MBU may allow the two latest states of Lussantia and their broadcasters, VT and YCTV, to compete separately in the 5th edition of the Maia Song Contest. However, on 26 October, the Lussantian broadcaster, FLBS, announced the participation of Lussantia, as one, in the 5th Maia Song Contest, saying that "the MBU does not recognize those states as sovereign states".
 * YoshiFlag.png Yoshi's Island - Along with Eastern Lussantia, Yoshi's Island would have been set to debut in the contest according to Rekordet, but the regional broadcaster, YCTV, said that they couldn't MBU membership due to the state not being a sovereign country.
 * - On 11 November 2016, Shaniqua Diva Fantasy Network (SDFN) announced that they had opted not to reapply for MBU membership, a prerequisite for the contest. SDFN and ZBC executive Shaniqua "Shaniqua Diva" Stevic announced that "the MBU is obviously jealous and a bunch of basic bitches" and revealed that she "would not waste any more time filling out the thirty-second-long application form". Shaniqua Diva later confirmed that she did not need Viridia to participate in the Maia Song Contest "because I am the dictator of the Zycantian selection anyway and I can do whatever the fuck I want". Shaniqua Diva also confirmed that the hugely popular One Woman Show would air on the SDFN instead of the Maia Song Contest 5, with "Shaniqua Diva performing covers of all Maia Song Contest 5 entries naked and Delta Goodrem performing a cover of whatever song comes second".